Is Halloween less safe today than when we were kids?

Is it my imagination or is it really less safe for our kids these days? Part of me hopes it’s the 24/7 news and the Internet that incessantly informs us of the horrors around us that make things seem worse. Were those dangers always there, and we were simply blissfully unaware? What do you think?

As kids we roamed in packs on Halloween, ranging far and wide in search of sugary goodness. Did my parents worry the way I do now? Honestly I don’t think so. Is it more dangerous now or are we overprotective? Me, I’m starting construction on a tower (think Rapunzel) for our daughter this weekend.

17 comments

I actually DON’T think it’s less safe nowadays. We, as parents, have just become more fearful. We tend to worry about everything..whether it’s warranted or not (I am certainly guilty of this myself)

You’re right about the internet and media..when something terrible happens, we hear about it on the radio, on TV, the internet, then again on each of the hundreds of Tv channels we now have access too, etc..I don’t think there’s MORE evil out there..we just hear about it a lot more.

I try very hard not to let me fears filter down to my kids..I want them growing up feeling safe and confident…and vigilant,of course.

Hmm, no, I think we don’t remember from when were were very young. I remember roaming around in herds but that must have been in my double-digits already, maybe even my teens. I think teenagers can still roam around on their own safely.

Actually, I think we were the scary ones. I distinctly remember bringing a can of hairspray one year to make the candles in some of the pumpkins really glow bright.

You may be right about us being older before we roamed in packs with our fellow tweens, Alex. Maybe I’ll loosen up and change my mind, but I’d be uncomfortable with letting a 12 year old girl do it today.

I was just thinking earlier about how it’s become TOO safe. We worry so much that our kids go to safe events rather than what I remember as quintessential trick-or-treating. Maybe when mine is older I will allow her to do the house-to-house thing. But I’d say the risks of that have always been the same. It’s never a stellar idea to let your kids take candy from strangers. But somehow we survive!

I think it is as safe, or as dangerous as it was when we were all growing up. I remember my parents going through all our candy and coming with us till we were older. I don’t see as much of the older kids and night trick or treating, but isn’t that a good thing. Plus, most likely they have too much homework to do and don’t have time. That is one thing that is different!!! Hope you had a great Halloween!!

I don’t know- I think that bad things ALWAYS happened. When we were kids, it was a shameful thing if kids were kidnapped or molested and became dark family secrets no one talked about. Now a days, people point fingers as soon as possible- to the better in some ways, of course: Children get the help they need, parents take necessary precautions, and we get the bad guys off the streets. But in bad ways too: Parents being over protective and kids becoming expectant and lacking independence. I don’t think the world is a more dangerous place. It’s just more obvious.

Our neighborhood does a trunk or treat and that’s it. I hate it. We come to my mom’s neighborhood to actually pound pavement and go door to door. People say the trunk or treats are safer. I say it’s only safer if your kid is 5 years old and you plan on letting him go alone. My dad went with me and my friends until we were in jr high and then, we were expected home one hour after dark. (unless we were at a party instead of trick or treating since that’s about when we stopped trick or treating anyway.) I don’t plan on sending my kids out on their own. And no one is going to grab my kid and take him or her in the house while I’m standing with my husband on the sidewalk watching them choose their treat. You know?

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Thanks!
Brae

Thanks for the great comment. I suspect you are probably right. We likely are just much more aware, and at least to the good in some cases. My neighborhood just did a good old fashioned Halloween, and it was really quite fun. My wife and I both went with our little girl… and another mom and her little boy. Oh, and you think I’m kidding about the tower? 😉 I’m following you on GFC & Twitter, btw. A pleasure to meet you!

I think Halloween is still relatively safe but it is less than when I was a kid. I mean let’s be honest crime is higher today than it was say 10 years ago. If you live in a safe neighborhood, of course it wouldn’t seem unsafe but the truth of the matter is that a lot of people do use Halloween as a cause to stir up trouble.

Yeah, it’s hard to say, isn’t it? It seems scarier out there, and I certainly am quite protective of my little girl. That said crime rates started climbing in the late 60’s, but recently have actually dropped off a bit. As in all things it comes down to us parents to help our kids make the best choices (even if sometimes they are unpopular)?

I know this phenomenon. Thing are less safe nowadays. Yeah, they seem so at least. Or we are just more informed about life’s cruelty nowadays. I don”t know. But I would not let my kids go trick-or-treating alone, noo way. Am I a control freak? Yeah, maybe. 🙂 I am expecting a picture of that tower!

Yeah, I’m with you on not letting younger kids on the street for Halloween without their parents somewhere nearby. As our daughter gets a bit older, I do want to encourage self-confidence and give her more freedom. I think that’s good for for kids, within reason. That said, with all the crazy people speeding down dimly lit streets while our little ghouls and goblins are out and about, I expect they are the biggest think we have to fear?

I think bad things are always there as I read in one of the comments, it doesn’t necessarily means that is less safe and maybe as parents we are protective of our kids, that’s entirely normal. I actually think is a little bit of both, maybe is less safer in some cities and countries and we are overprotective as well. I wouldn’t let my kids wander alone that’s for sure and perhaps it’s also because we are more informed. It is definitely a great subject to discuss!!

Yeah, it’s a fine line isn’t it, Lucy? We need to be sure our kids are allowed to stretch their wings and learn to be confident and self-confident. But we also need to arm them with reasonable safety information, and draw appropriate boundaries as needed.

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Hi! I'm Michael, the founder and editor of adaddyblog.com. I'm a university director by day and a lifestyle blogger by night. More than anything, I'm a husband and a dad. This site targets parenthood from the dad’s perspective, and includes a big focus on family travel, entertainment, technology, social media, coffee, cars & cuddles. ;) Leave a comment on one of my posts and let me know you were here, or connect with me on any of the site icons along the top left of this page!